Seasonal climbing closures protect nesting peregrine falcons at two state parks

A partnership for the peregrines

In coordination with WDFW, State Parks closes these areas to reduce disturbance during peregrine falcon nesting. Peregrines nest on high ledges, and repeated human activity near active nests can cause adults to “flush,” or panic and leave their eggs. This can impact incubation or brooding, deplete the birds’ energy and in some cases contribute to nest failure.

These seasonal buffers and closures are a standard management tool for reducing recreation-related disturbance to sensitive nesting raptors.

Why closures matter

These closures are for the safety of the birds and their chicks and also for visitor safety, as falcons have divebombed climbers when they’ve felt threatened.

The prospect of getting divebombed by a raptor – and peregrines can exceed speeds of 200 mph on hunting dives – while sending that 5.10 move should be a strong deterrent. But, if not, the $500 fine for disturbing them might do the trick.

We appreciate our climber friends who support our conservation mission, which helps us protect these majestic birds.

Fun falcon facts

• Peregrine falcons are generally monogamous and often maintain long-term pair bonds, though pair changes can occur if one bird dies or is replaced.
• Unlike many birds, peregrines don’t nest in trees; they scrape hollows out of high, hard-to-reach ledges.
• A highly adaptable bird, a few pairs are known to have nests under Seattle bridges and on high-rise building ledges, including one nest downtown that has been occupied on and off, but mostly on, for 25 years.
• In Washington, peregrines may begin occupying territories and courtship sites in late winter. Egg laying and incubation generally occur in spring and the young typically fledge in summer. Closure dates are set conservatively and lifted when biologists determine the nesting risk has passed.

Falcon history and patterns

• Peregrine falcons declined across North America and much of their global range after widespread use of DDT after World War II.
  • DDT and its breakdown products caused eggshell thinning, which reduced nesting success.
  • Washington listed peregrines as endangered in 1980, when only five nesting pairs were known in the state.
  • After DDT restrictions and recovery efforts, peregrines rebounded; the American peregrine falcon was removed from the federal endangered species list in 1999, and Washington delisted the species in 2016.
  • But recent surveys have shown local declines in peregrine populations in areas across the globe, including some in Washington.
• Although peregrines are no longer listed as endangered, they remain protected under Washington law. They are also protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

For more about peregrines, visit WDFW or the Urban Raptor Conservancy. If you notice a peregrine or other sensitive wildlife species while exploring a state park, consider submitting an observation to help with conservation and management of this incredible bird here.

For closure and reopening updates, please check alerts for Beacon Rock and Olallie.

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